n if they did, we considered that we were so
securely hidden that they were not likely to find us. At last their
voices ceased; whatever might have been their suspicions, they continued
their way back to the camp.

We now held a consultation whether we should at once push on to meet our
expected friends, or remain in our secure hiding-place till their
arrival.

Tired as we were with our long run, during which we had strained every
muscle to the utmost, we settled to remain in the ruins till the
afternoon; indeed, it was not likely that, even should Ben induce the
allies of the French to come to our assistance, they could reach the
place for some hours. He would not know, either, whether we had been
captured or not; and as it must have seemed to him that there was every
probability of our having again fallen into the hands of our
task-masters, he might have advised the sheikh to wait till he could
send forward a force able to cope with the party under Siddy Boo Cassem.

Our spirits were high, for we had accomplished far more than we
expected, and we had every hope of escaping from the galling bondage we
had for so long endured.

"Come, Charlie," said Boxall, "I'll take the look-out now." So gladly
yielding up my place, I threw myself on the ground, and was asleep in a
few moments.

When I awoke, daylight was streaming in through our narrow look-out
hole, at which Selim was now stationed, while Boxall and Halliday were
fast asleep, they having been in the interval on the watch. I did not
wake them; but climbing up where Selim stood, I asked if he had seen
anything.

"No," he answered; "not a single person has passed. The peasantry, I
suspect, have fled from this part of the country, and we may possibly
make our way to the camp of our friends without meeting any one. It
would, however, be a long journey on foot; and should Siddy Boo Cassem
send out an expedition, we might run the risk of being overtaken and
recaptured."

Notwithstanding what he said, I could not help feeling a strong desire
to push on, and I thought of proposing to Boxall and Halliday to do so.
Still, while they slept so soundly, I did not like to awake them.

After some time I told Selim to lie down again, and I would keep watch.

Feeling very hungry, I munched some of the dates and barley-bread which
we had brought with us. This made me thirsty, and reminded me that we
must search for water before we could attempt to proceed. I was,
t